Adjusting mechanism for harvester reels



Dec. 18, 1928.

D. W. SMITH ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR HARVESTER REELS Filed May 5, 192

Invnio? janz'az ZZ/ Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

smrEuiri OEFIC Ec-f DANIEL W. sMiTH} or" o'AirjrARK;rumors,; ssIG1voR-"ro'mrnnivh'rroiver. HAR- i vnsrnn' coMr vY; A CORPORATION on NEIWIJERSEYH ADJUSTING MECHANISM-{FOR HARVEYSTERIREELS.

Applicatiomfiled .May. 3',

This invention relates. to an improved.

adjusting mechanism @for grain harvesters. Specifically; it relates to means forjass sting in its movements. g i In the standard grain harvester, as It is nowknown, the .reel. is mounted for adj ust-w ment in an'up and down "direction as well as for ad ustment in a-fore and aft directlon.

Such. movements of the reel are effected by a lever =mechanism. controlled; by k; the zo'pei ator, such mechanism comprisingitwo'levers, one of which. controlsxtheup and downsarh justment of the :reel, while.the-Yother;.is ef-' fective to control the otheraor fore and-aft movement of theree'lai. :In ztlletpastreachiof these .l'evers wasprovidedizwith a spring connection, each spring functioning to aid its particular lever n movlng the reel. Whlle such two-spring constructions performed satisfactorily, they were nevertheless too complex in structure for the work they had to accomplish and thus an improvement simplifying the mechanism is very desirable.

Accordingly, it is the main purpose of this invention to simplify harvester reel adjustless expensive and less likely to get outof order.

ing mechanisms, thereby making the same Other objects should be apparent as the description of this invention progresses.

The object sought is accomplished in the provision of a single resilient member or. spring which is connected in such a manner with the levers and reel as to serve the dual function of aiding adjustment of the reel up or down, and counterbalancing its weight when thesame is moved fore and aft.

Reference should now be made to the accompanying sheet of drawing showing an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein the single figure is an elevational view of so much of the conventional harvester. structure as is necessary to this 'disclosure and. an understanding of this invention, the improved reel controlling mechanismbeing shown in position on the harvester frame.

Viewing this single figure of drawing, there is shown part of a harvester frame, indicated at 10, which carries a'longitudinally disposed frame member in the form of a .18, which in-Jt'urn rotatably c upper free end a reel shaft19.. This con; ventionally carries the spider.,20 are. fitted; the arms 21, whichcai'ry at their;

extremities the reel bats '22. The! J the .reelwshaft, of course,.-is. similarly, conc 7.

.1926... Seria1"No;.c106,1 91. 1

pipe 11, the endsupporting the usual- 563i v,512 fon g the goperator of the harvester.

g At 18. and 1 141, respectively, :are indicated "the the mechanism which effects forecandaft, as well as up and down, movement or adjust ment of K the freely the same .means. :function-g; ing-to counterbalance therweight' of the reel .front andrear elevatorboards for a conveyoiginot-shown. j 7

The foravarid ei'id of the-pipe l1 has jourr. naled thereinagshaft 15 forpivotally mounting a reelarm 16,.the arm carrying in its, .freeupper, enda shaft or PlILl? for pivot-ally support 5 connecting thereto an upright reel arr es in =.its .1;

in which i V structed and supported,-and,iasthis isstand ard structure and unnecesary.to thiszdis closure,- the same has not. been-,illustratedi s providedwith the usual arcuate toothed rack 23 and, a pin 24 serving as the fulcrum for a lever. 25 and a'similar lever 26, each lever being provided with the customary detents 27 for engagement with the toothed rack, as will be understood. Y

The first mentioned lever 25 has a link connection 28 to thereel upright or support 18. Thearm 16 is provided with a bracket 29 which has a link co'nnection'30 with the 8 lever 26. The bracket 29, it will be noted, carries a stop member 81.

Heretofore, each of the levers shown was provided with a resilient or spring connec- 7 tion to the reel for assisting the respective levers. By this invention, as stated in the objects already recited, only one spring is p'ro- I vided, which is soconnected that it will serve both levers. This single spring is indicated at 32,and it will be seen that at one end it is connected by a. hook and eye link33 to- .the lower end of the lever 25 and at its other the link 30, as will be understood.

In operation, if it is 'desiredto raise or 10 lower the reel, the lever 26 is actuated upon release of'its detent and the reel arm 16 swings on the pin 15 as a fulcrum, the spring 32 aiding the leverbecause of its connection with. the link 30 connecting the lever 26 and the farendof 7O Adjacent the operators seat the pipe ll is 7 5 arm 16, by means of the bracket 29.: The other end of the spring is fixed to the lever 25, which at this time is stationary, thus permitting elongation or compression of the spring. The stop 31 limits rearward movement of the arm 16 by contacting the pipe 11. If it is desired to adjust the reel fore and aft, this is done by actuating the lever 25 and through the link 28 move the support 18 on the pivot pin 17. The spring 32 counter-balances the weight of the reel because of its connection to the lever 25 and the member 34 which serves as a fixed point for stretching or compressing the said spring.

Thus, it will be seen that the mechanism disclosed accomplishes the very desirable objects sought. It is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of modification and change, and it is the intention to cover all such changes which fall within the spirit of this invention as indicated in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a harvester, the combination ofa reel carried thereby for up and down and fore and aft movement, a lever, a connection from the lever to the reel for moving the reel fore and aft, a second lever, a connection therefrom to the reel for moving it up and down, and a resilient connection between the first lever and the connection between the second lever and reel. r

2. In a harvester havin a frame, the combination of a reel carrie by a support pivv tion therefrom to the reel support for moving the reel up and down, and a spring fixedly connected to the first lever and adjustably anchored to the connection between the second lever and reel support at a predetermined.

point thereon. v r r 3. Ina harvester having a frame, the combination of a reel carried by a support pivoted on the frame for. up and down and fore and aft movement, a lever, a connection from the lever to the reel support for moving the reel fore and aft, a second lever, a connection therefrom to the reel support for moving the reel up and down, an anchor member slidably carried on the second connection including a lock means, and a spring connected to the first lever and to said lock means, whereby the pull of the spring actuates said lock means to secure the anchor member on said second connection. I y

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DANIEL W. SMITH. 

